Denmark's government on Wednesday proposed a temporary ceiling for consumers' gas, electricity and district heating costs this winter to counter soaring energy prices.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a news conference households and businesses would under the proposal be able to delay paying the share of a bill that surpasses a certain price threshold .

Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen said the government expected the initiative would cost around 45 billion Danish crowns ($6.06 billion). ($1 = 7.4316 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard, writing by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Stine Jacobsen)